Four candidates vied for two seats on the Albany City Council on Nov. 2. The final date to register to vote was Oct. 18, and Oct. 26 was the final day to request a vote-by-mail ballot.
See all the results.
Read the election night story.
Candidate forums took place Oct. 7 and Oct. 19.
Albany Patch has compiled background information on each of the candidates, which can be found here:
- Marge Atkinson (incumbent)
- Caryl O'Keefe
- Francesco Papalia
- Joanne Wile (incumbent)
We also have published issues questionnaires on nine hot Albany topics.
- Projected Budget Deficit
- On the Waterfront
- Safeway on Solano
- Pierce Street Park
- Public Campaign Financing
- City's Biggest Success Over the Past Four Years
- City's Biggest Failures
- Grading the City on the Budget
View the issues by candidate:
- Marge Atkinson
- Caryl O'Keefe
- Francesco Papalia
- Joanne Wile
Several of the candidates also responded to a number of questions about bike and pedestrian issues in Albany. You can view their responses here.
There will not be a Board of Education election because three people filed for candidacy, and three seats will be open. Learn more about them here:
- Paul Black
- Jonathan Knight
- Allan Maris
There will be four city measures on the ballot.
Measure N: Eliminates the elected city attorney position and establishes the job as a City Council appointee. Majority vote required.
- Albany Patch story
- Changing from elected to appointed city attorney
- Argument in Favor
- Rebuttal to Argument In Favor
- Argument Against
- Rebuttal to Argument Against
- City Clerk Impartial Analysis
Measure O: Alters the city's utility users tax to reduce the communications portion from 7 percent to 6.5 percent, include video in the tax and require voter approval of all tax increases. Majority vote required.
- Albany Patch story
- Reducing the Utility User Tax
- Argument in Favor
- City Attorney Impartial Analysis
Measure P: Allows the city to adjust the paramedic and fire service tax with the Consumer Price Index. Two-thirds vote required.
- Albany Patch story
- Modifying Chapter 4-8, Paramedic Advance Life Support Fire Engines & Ambulance Special Tax
- Argument in Favor
- City Attorney Impartial Analysis
Measure Q: Establishes a marijuana business license tax. Majority vote required.
- Albany Patch story
- Setting a Business License Tax to be paid by a cannabis business operating in the City of Albany
- Argument in Favor
- City Attorney Impartial Analysis
There's also a county measure.
Measure F: Transportation Improvement Measure -- Alameda County. To repair and maintain local streets and roads; improve traffic flow and bicyclist, pedestrian and driver safety; improve public transportation; and encourage green transportation options; shall a local vehicle registration fee of $10 be established in Alameda County with expenditures subject to strict monitoring and with all revenues staying in Alameda County?You can find other elections resources here:
- Register to vote
- Are you registered to vote?
- Find your Albany polling place here
- Find Your Polling Location (Alameda County)
- Click here to check whether your ballot has been received (Thanks, Caryl O'Keefe, for the link)
- List of Polling Locations throughout Alameda County
- See your Personal Ballot
Organizations and Guides:
- Albany Elections Information (Albany City Clerk)
- Secretary of State voter guide
- Statewide ballot measures
- Total Capitol (California politics and people)
- Smart Voter (League of Women Voters)
- League of Women Voters, Albany branch
- California Republican Party Voter Guide
- East Bay Young Democrats Election Guide
- Election Forum (Evangelical Christian election guide)
I say let's be done with this Romper Room style of governance and reform our city's governmental structure. Albany deserves a real city government, one more accountable to the electorate. Write in your vote to Reform Albany's Government and let's be done with these very silly and very ineffectual people.